A CANADIAN man sentenced to life in prison for killing and dismembering his Chinese lover and mailing his body parts to schools and political parties has joined a matchmaking website for inmates.

Luka Magnotta's profile was posted on Canadian Inmates Connect, a website that tries to hook up lonesome convicts - some behind bars for violent offences like first-degree murder - with potential companions on the outside.

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The profile features two photos of the former stripper and prostitute, who was convicted in December of first-degree murder for the killing and dismemberment of university student Jun Lin in Montreal.

In both images, Magnotta is wearing an unbuttoned white dress shirt.

Magnotta is serving a life sentence with possible parole after 25 years.

The case shocked Canadians and gained international notoriety when body parts arrived at the offices of Canada's biggest political parties, and a video appeared online that prosecutors said showed Magnotta stabbing and having sex with the dismembered corpse.

In May 2012, a package containing a severed foot was found at the headquarters of Canada's ruling Conservative Party. The same day, a hand was discovered at a postal facility in a package addressed to the Liberal Party of Canada.

Mr Lin's torso was found in a suitcase at a rubbish dump outside Magnotta's apartment building in Montreal. About a week later, the missing foot and hand were found, mailed to two schools in Vancouver.

Magnotta was arrested in Berlin after an international manhunt.

Magnotta's profile lists his expected release date as 2037, and adds: "Only those I deem compatible will receive a response."

Melissa Fazzina, who created the site about four and half years ago, said Magnotta sent the information to her through a contact. The application and 35 dollar (£22) fee arrived by regular mail about 10 days ago. Convicts do not have internet access.

"I was taken aback," Ms Fazzina said of seeing Magnotta's name on the application.

She said she is bracing for a backlash against her decision to accept his application.

Magnotta's ad does not mention his specific conviction, and Ms Fazzina recommends users proceed with caution.